Single chip optical cross connect

An optical cross connect for switching an optical signal between a first plurality of optical ports and a second plurality of optical ports, said optical cross connect comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface facing the first and second pluralities of optical ports;
• a first plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said first plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the first plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• a second plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said second plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the second plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• and
• a free space switch interface defined between the optical ports and the first surface of said substrate with the optical ports being on a first side of said free space switch interface and said reflective microstructures being on a second side of said free space switch interface opposite the first side;
• each said reflective microstructure of said first plurality of reflective microstructures being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port directly to the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said second plurality of reflective microstructures and to reflect an optical signal receivable directly from the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said second plurality of reflective microstructures to its associated optical port;
• each said reflective microstructure of said second plurality of reflective microstructures being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable directly from the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said first plurality of reflective microstructures to its associated optical port and to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port directly to the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said first plurality of reflective microstructures.

An optical cross connect for switching an optical signal between a first plurality of optical ports and a second plurality of optical ports, said optical cross connect comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface facing the first and second pluralities of optical ports;
• a first plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said first plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the first plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface, wherein the number of reflective microstructures in the first plurality of reflective microstructures equals the number of optical ports in the first plurality of optical ports;
• a second plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said second plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the second plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface, wherein the number of reflective microstructures in the second plurality of reflective microstructures equals the number of optical ports in the second plurality of optical ports;
• an optically reflective area facing and spaced away from the first surface of said substrate, said optically reflective area being positioned between the first and second pluralities of optical ports to reflect an optical signal between the optically reflective surface of any one of said reflective microstructures of said first plurality of reflective microstructures and the optically reflective surface of any one of said reflective microstructures of said second plurality of reflective microstructures;
• a lid positionable between the optical ports and the first surface of said substrate, said lid being configured for permitting transmission of optical signals therethrough between each optical port and its associated reflective microstructure, said lid having said optically reflective area formed on a side of said lid facing the first surface of said substrate;
• and
• at least one plate attachable to said lid, said at least one plate including a plurality of holes within which a plurality of optical fiber ends are receivable formed on a side of said at least one plate facing away from the first surface of said substrate, the holes being arranged on said at least one plate to align the optical fiber ends with the reflective microstructures when said at least one plate is attached on said lid;
• each said reflective microstructure of said first and second pluralities of reflective microstructures being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port to the optically reflective area and to reflect an optical signal receivable from the optically reflective area to its associated optical port.

An optical cross connect for switching optical signals between a plurality of optical ports, said optical cross connect comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface facing the optical ports;
• a plurality of first means formed on said substrate for reflecting optical signals incident thereon, each said first means being associated with one of the optical ports;
• a free space switch interface defined between the optical ports and the first surface of said substrate with the optical ports being on a first side of said free space switch interface and said first means being on a second side of said free space switch interface opposite the first side;
• and
• a plurality of second means formed on said substrate for orienting each said first means to direct an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port directly to at least one other one of said first means and orienting each said first means to direct an optical signal receivable directly from at least one other one of said first means to its associated optical port.

An optical cross connect for switching optical signals between a plurality of optical ports, said optical cross connect comprising;

• a substrate having a first surface facing the optical ports;
• a plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure being associated with one of the optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• a plurality of positioning systems formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said positioning system being associated with one of said reflective microstructures and operable to elevate its associated reflective microstructure from the first surface of said substrate and tilt its associated reflective microstructure with at least two degrees of freedom with respect to the first surface of said substrate;
• at least one positioning system including a first lever arm of a first length having a first end thereof attached to its associated reflective microstructure and a second end thereof attached to said substrate, said first lever arm of a first length being pivotable about its second end;
• and
• at least one positioning system including a second lever arm of a second length having a first end thereof attached to its associated reflective microstructure and a second end thereof attached to said substrate, said second lever arm of a second length being pivotable about its second end;
• said first and second lengths being different wherein pivoting of said first and second lever arms through the same angular displacement achieves different vertical displacement of the first ends of said first and second lever arms with respect to the first surface of said substrate.

An optical cross connect for switching an optical signal between a first optical port and any one of a plurality of second optical ports, said optical cross connect comprising:

• a substrate having a surface facing the first optical port and the plurality of second optical ports;
• a first reflective microstructure formed on the surface of said substrate, said first reflective microstructure being associated with the first optical port and including an optically reflective surface;
• a plurality of second reflective microstructures formed on the surface of said substrate, each said second reflective microstructure being associated with one of said second optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• and
• a free space switch interface defined between the optical ports and the surface of said substrate with the optical ports being on a first side of said free space switch interface and said reflective microstructures being on a second side of said free space switch interface opposite the first side;
• said first reflective microstructure being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable from the first optical port directly to the reflective surface of any one of said second reflective microstructures and to reflect an optical signal receivable directly from the reflective surface of any one of said second reflective microstructures to the first optical port;
• each said second reflective microstructure being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable directly from said first reflective microstructure to its associated optical port and to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port directly to said first reflective microstructure.

An optical cross connect switch, comprising:

• a support;
• a plurality of first input mirror microstructures disposed within a first row on a first side of a first reference axis;
• a first pivot member for each of said first input mirror microstructures, wherein each said first pivot member interconnects its corresponding said first input mirror microstructure with said support, and wherein each said first pivot member is of a first length;
• a plurality of second input mirror microstructures disposed within a second row on said first side of said first reference axis in spaced relation to said first row such that said first row is disposed between said second row and said first reference axis;
• a second pivot member for each of said second input mirror microstructures, wherein each said second pivot member interconnects its corresponding said second input mirror microstructure with said support, and wherein each said second pivot member is of a second length different from said first length;
• a plurality of first output mirror microstructures disposed within a third row on a second side of said first reference axis that is opposite said first side;
• a third pivot member for each of said first output mirror microstructures, wherein each said third pivot member interconnects its corresponding said first output mirror microstructure with said support, and wherein each said third pivot member is of a third length;
• a plurality of second output mirror microstructures disposed within a fourth row on said second side of said first reference axis in spaced relation to said third row such that said third row is disposed between said fourth row and said first reference axis;
• and
• a fourth pivot member for each of said second output mirror microstructures, wherein each said fourth pivot member interconnects its corresponding said second output mirror microstructure with said support, and wherein each said fourth pivot member is of a fourth length different from said third length.

An optical cross connect switch, comprising:

• a support having a surface;
• a plurality of first input mirror microstructures disposed within a first row on a first side of a first reference axis defined on the surface of said support;
• an input pivot member for each of said input mirror microstructures, wherein each said input pivot member interconnects its corresponding said input mirror microstructure with said support;
• a plurality of output mirror micro structures disposed within a second row on a second side of said first reference axis that is opposite said first side;
• and
• an output pivot member for each of said output mirror microstructures, wherein each said output pivot member interconnects its corresponding said output mirror microstructure with said support, wherein a second reference axis defined on the surface of said support is perpendicular to said first reference axis, wherein a magnitude of a first acute angle defined on the surface of said support between said first reference axis and each said input pivot member is decreased for each said input pivot member that is disposed further from said second reference axis, and wherein a magnitude of a second acute angle defined on the surface of said support between said first reference axis and each said output pivot member is decreased for each said output pivot member that is disposed further from said second reference axis.

An optical cross connect for switching an optical signal between a first plurality of optical ports and a second plurality of optical ports, said optical cross connect comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface facing the first and second pluralities of optical ports;
• a first plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said first plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the first plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• and
• a second plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said second plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the second plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• each said reflective microstructure of said first plurality of reflective microstructures being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port to the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said second plurality of reflective microstructures and to reflect an optical signal receivable from the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said second plurality of reflective microstructures to its associated optical port;
• each said reflective microstructure of said second plurality of reflective microstructures being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable from the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said first plurality of reflective microstructures to its associated optical port and to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port to the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said first plurality of reflective microstructures;
• wherein said first and second pluralities of reflective microstructures are arranged in a plurality of rows on said substrate and said reflective microstructures within an outer one of said rows are elevatable to a greater height from the first surface of said substrate than said reflective microstructures within an inner one of said rows.

An optical cross connect for switching an optical signal between a first plurality of optical ports and a second plurality of optical ports, the first and second pluralities of optical ports comprising optical fiber ends, said optical cross connect comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface facing the first and second pluralities of optical ports;
• a first plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said first plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the first plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• a second plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said second plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the second plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• each said reflective microstructure of said first plurality of reflective microstructures being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port to the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said second plurality of reflective microstructures and to reflect an optical signal receivable from the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said second plurality of reflective microstructures to its associated optical port;
• each said reflective microstructure of said second plurality of reflective microstructures being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable from the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said first plurality of reflective microstructures to its associated optical port and to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port to the reflective surface of at least one of said reflective microstructures of said first plurality of reflective microstructures;
• a lid positionable between the optical ports and the first surface of said substrate, said lid being configured for permitting transmission of optical signals therethrough between each optical port and its associated reflective microstructure;
• at least one plate attachable to said lid, said at least one plate including a plurality of holes within which the optical fiber ends are receivable formed on a side of said at least one plate facing away from the first surface of said substrate, the holes being arranged on said at least one plate to align the optical fiber ends with the reflective microstructures when said at least one plate is attached on said lid;
• and
• an alignment structure configured to ensure correct alignment of said at least one plate on said lid when attaching said at least one plate to said lid, wherein said alignment structure comprises at least one of a notch, a groove, and a pin formed on at least one of said lid and said plate.

An optical cross connect for switching an optical signal between a first plurality of optical ports and a second plurality of optical ports, said optical cross connect comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface facing the first and second pluralities of optical ports;
• a first plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said first plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the first plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• a second plurality of reflective microstructures formed on the first surface of said substrate, each said reflective microstructure of said second plurality of reflective microstructures being associated with one of the second plurality of optical ports and including an optically reflective surface;
• and
• an optically reflective area facing and spaced away from the first surface of said substrate, said optically reflective area being positioned between the first and second pluralities of optical ports to reflect an optical signal between the optically reflective surface of any one of said reflective microstructures of said first plurality of reflective microstructures and the optically reflective surface of any one of said reflective microstructures of said second plurality of reflective microstructures, wherein said optically reflective area is configured to modify optical properties of an optical signal reflected therefrom, said optical properties including polarization;
• each said reflective microstructure of said first and second pluralities of reflective microstructures being positionable to orient its reflective surface to reflect an optical signal receivable from its associated optical port to the optically reflective area and to reflect an optical signal receivable from the optically reflective area to its associated optical port.

An optical cross connect switch, comprising:

• a support;
• a plurality of first input mirror microstructures disposed within a first row on a first side of a first reference axis;
• a first pivot member for each of said input mirror microstructures, wherein each said first pivot member interconnects its corresponding said first input mirror microstructure with said support, and wherein each said first pivot members is of a first length;
• a plurality of second input mirror microstructure disposed within a second row on said first side of said first reference axis in second relation to said first row such that said first row is disposed between second row and said first reference axis;
• a second pivot member for each of said second input mirror microstructure, wherein each said second pivot member interconnects its corresponding said second input mirror microstructure with said support, and wherein each said pivot member is of a second length;
• a plurality of first output mirror microstructure disposed within a third row on a second side of said first reference axis that is opposite said first side;
• a third pivot member for each of said first output mirror microstructure, wherein each said third pivot member interconnects its corresponding said first output mirror microstructure with said support, and wherein each said third pivot member is of a third length;
• a plurality of second output mirror microstructure disposed within a fourth row on said second side of said first reference axis in spaced relation to said third row such that said third row is disposed between said fourth row and said first reference axis;
• and
• a fourth pivot member for each of said second output mirror microstructure, wherein each said fourth pivot member interconnects its corresponding said second output mirror microstructure with said support, and wherein each said fourth pivot member is of a fourth length;
• wherein said second length is greater than said first length and wherein said fourth length is greater than said third length.

An optical cross connect switch, comprising:

• a support having a surface;
• a plurality of first input mirror microstructures disposed within a first row on a first side of a first reference axis defined on the surface of said support;
• a first pivot member for each of said input mirror microstructures, wherein each said first pivot member interconnects its corresponding said input mirror microstructure with said support, wherein said first input pivot members in said first row are disposed in non- parallel relation;
• a plurality of output mirror microstructures disposed within a second row on a second side of said first reference axis that is opposite said first side;
• and
• a first output pivot member for each of said output mirror microstructures, wherein each said first output pivot member interconnects its corresponding said output mirror microstructure with said support, wherein said first output pivot members in said second row are disposed in non-parallel relation.